Could rainwater help keep your pool full?
Pools lose water to evaporation, splash, and backwashing all season. See how much rainwater your Austin roof could capture to offset that makeup water, from your address alone.
We don't install anything
RainwaterIQ is an independent Austin rainwater assessment. We use your address to estimate what your roof could capture, from public rainfall data and your building's footprint, and we show you the number before asking for your email. If you decide you want quotes from local installers later, you can make that call on your own timeline.
Compare roof capture with pool water losses
The EPA estimates an uncovered 500-sq-ft pool can lose 12,000 to 31,000 gallons a year to evaporation, depending on climate. For comparison, a 2,000-sq-ft roof at 36.25 inches of annual rain and 85% collection efficiency could collect about 38,400 gallons per year. This is an example, not a city average.
Rainwater won't replace your pool's makeup water gallon-for-gallon. Timing and storage matter, and captured water arrives when it rains, not when you need it. The numbers are close enough that the comparison is worth making.
Sources: EPA WaterSense (pool evaporation); Texas Water Development Board (roof capture).
Three steps. About a minute. No account.
You see a real, property-specific estimate before we ask for your email.
Enter your address
The only thing we need to start. No name, no phone, no signup.
We look up your roof and your rainfall
We look for building geometry, use a labeled estimate if it is unavailable, and apply Austin's long-term rainfall normal.
You get your pool water number
Estimated gallons your roof could capture in a year, plus a 0–100 Rainwater Potential Score that explains what's driving it.
The math, in the open
Your estimate uses a documented formula and assumptions. This is how it is built.
Gallons ≈ your roof footprint × Austin rainfall × 0.623 × collection efficiency
0.623 gallons per inch, per square foot
One inch of rain drops this much water on one square foot of roof. It's the standard industry constant, the same one the Texas Water Development Board uses.
Austin rainfall: about 36.25 inches a year
We use the NOAA 1991–2020 30-year climate normal for the Austin–Camp Mabry station, a long-record central Austin station, rather than a single wet or dry year. The number stays stable and reproducible. We use this station across the Austin metro. Rainfall at your property and in any single year will vary.
Collection efficiency: about 85%
Real systems never capture every drop. First-flush diversion, gutter spillage, and overflow all take a share. The 85% factor is an assumption, not a simulation of your tank. Actual usable water depends on rainfall timing, storage, and demand.
Your roof footprint, not a city average
Where available, footprint comes from City of Austin 2023 building geometry, so the estimate is specific to your property. When measured geometry isn't available for an address, we fall back to an estimate and label it clearly on your result.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), Austin–Camp Mabry station; Texas Water Development Board rainwater harvesting guidance; City of Austin 2023 building footprints. Rebate and regulation figures are date-stamped and flagged for review when their review dates pass.
A few things worth knowing before you start
Austin-specific facts behind the estimate, each one sourced.
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A 2,000-sq-ft Austin roof could capture about 38,400 gallons a year using the 36.25-inch Camp Mabry rainfall normal, 0.623 gallons per inch per square foot, and 85% collection efficiency. This is a worked example, not an average Austin roof.
Sources: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals and Texas Water Development Board rainwater harvesting guidance.
- Austin Water: Residential Rainwater Harvesting Rebate Up to $5,000 (capacity-based)
Austin currently offers qualifying rainwater-harvesting rebates of up to $5,000. Eligibility and the final rebate amount depend on system design, storage capacity, and program requirements.
Rebate requires meeting Austin Water program rules; pre-approval and specific system criteria typically apply. Confirm current terms before purchasing.
Source: Austin Water: Water Conservation Rebates · verified 2026-08-30
- Stormwater / Drainage Charge Reduction ~$2.90-$4.90/month (example, tank-size dependent)
Capturing rainwater on-site may qualify your property for a modest monthly drainage (stormwater) charge reduction, often a few dollars per month for a ~1,000-gallon tank.
Drainage-charge reductions depend on impervious-cover and program criteria; amounts vary.
Source: City of Austin: Drainage Charge · verified 2026-08-30
- Texas Rainwater Harvesting Incentives & Protections Sales-tax exemption on equipment
Texas actively encourages rainwater harvesting: rainwater-harvesting equipment is exempt from state sales tax, and state law limits how HOAs can restrict residential systems.
Exemptions and HOA protections have specific statutory conditions; verify current rules.
Source: Texas Water Development Board: Rainwater Harvesting · verified 2026-08-30
Incentives and rules change. These are educational summaries with sources and last-verified dates (latest: 2026-08-30). Confirm current terms before purchasing. We never guarantee eligibility or a specific amount.
Pool rainwater questions
Can rainwater actually keep my pool topped up?
It can offset some of the makeup water your pool loses, but not gallon-for-gallon on demand. Captured water arrives when it rains, not when your pool is low, so storage size and timing matter. The estimate shows what your roof could collect over a year. An installer can advise on how much of that is usable for a pool.
How much water does a pool lose to evaporation?
The EPA estimates an uncovered 500-sq-ft pool can lose about 12,000 to 31,000 gallons a year to evaporation, depending on climate. A solid cover can cut evaporation by more than 90%.
Do I have to request an installer to see my number?
No. You get your roof capture estimate and score from just your address, with no account. Connecting with an installer is optional and only happens if you ask.
See what your roof can do
Enter your Austin address for a property-specific estimate. No account required.
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